Romans, Part 45

For by the grace (χάριτος, a form of χάρις) given to me, Paul continued describing the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect,1 I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober...

Fear – Exodus, Part 5

The next occurrence of yârêʼ (יָרֵא) in Exodus is found in the song Moses and the Israelites sang…to the Lord.1  It was a song of praise and thanksgiving, looking back to the events when the Egyptian army chased them through the sea:  I will sing to the Lord, for he...

Son of God – 1 John, Part 2

Who is the liar but the person who denies (ἀρνούμενος, a form of ἀρνέομαι) that Jesus is the Christ?  This one is the antichrist: the person who denies (ἀρνούμενος, a form of ἀρνέομαι) the Father and the Son.1  This is one of the things John wrote to his...

Antichrist, Part 4

Back at Eden in Lars Von Trier’s “Antichrist” she (Charlotte Gainsbourg) explained an incident that happened the past summer.  She heard her son Nic crying.  She searched everywhere for him.  When she found him, he was playing contentedly, but the crying persisted for...

Romans, Part 44

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, Paul continued, by the mercies (οἰκτιρμῶν) of God…1  The Greek word οἰκτιρμῶν (a form of οἰκτιρμός), translated mercies, is the noun that corresponds to the verb translated compassion in, I will have mercy on whom I have...

Saving Demons, Part 1

If senseless1 Gentiles, chosen for salvation to make Israel jealous, reject the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness – a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness to pursue their own righteousness derived2 from a select...